Director Strategy

Company: VML
Location: Schiller Park
Posted on: July 6, 2025

Job Description:

Who We Are: At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150 offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. Who were looking for: VML is looking for an entrepreneurial minded Director Strategy to lead engagements in the hospitality and energy sectors. Its a fantastic growth opportunity for someone who thrives on working across complex brand portfolios. As a creatively driven Director Strategy you will leverage intelligence insights to tell impactful stories from the earliest research stage through creative development, communication planning and campaign evaluation. At the core of this role is the ability to glean and share human insights, a voracious curiosity, a collaborative nature, and the ability to inspire strong, impactful communications. What youll do: Partner with account leadership to support the overall management of client business relationships including strategy development, creation of briefs, briefing teams, campaign performance monitoring and ongoing client communications. Lead integrated agency team in day-to-day creation and management of campaigns, driving a high performing, cross-functional team to deliver work that drives efficiencies in content across touchpoints and exceeds client targets. Possess an inherent interest in consumer behavior and examine the way that brands communicate in order to find the intersection of brands, culture, and creativity. Collect, analyze, and interpret information from a variety of sources: market data, quantitative research data, cultural and social trends monitoring, qualitative interviews/conversations, observational research. Work with the creative and account management team to ensure all client deliverables are flawlessly executed and on strategy. Encourage proactivity, creativity and collaboration between the strategy and creative teams to ensure the sharing of work and innovative thinking. Use your experience and knowledge to inspire and motivate the team. Orchestrate brand planning, strategic planning, and analytical activity in concert with the creative and account management teams to establish disruptive ideas. Truly collaborate with groups of clients, account managers and creative in the development of inspiring creative briefs that translate insights into innovative and strategic campaign strategies. What youll need: 7 years in brand strategy/planning, marketing consulting or advertising having worked across complex brand portfolios. Global experience, ideally across a combination of travel and hospitality, CPG or loyalty. The ability to think on your feet and an eagerness to explore all available resources to think outside the box. Zealous passion for rolling up your sleeves to bring ideas to life with cross-functional teams. Strong interpersonal/communication skills; you will be face-to-face with various departments and client teams at their busiest moments. Must have a pulse on cultural and social trends with the ability to translate these trends into insights and creative opportunities. An expertise in data sources, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and a keen eye of when and how to apply them to client challenges. The ability to thrive in a highly collaborative and diverse team. Must be able to lead and work in an integrated team environment and be comfortable collaborating with teams from different regions and different agencies. A self-starter approach and true sense of ownership regarding work at each point of delivery. Excel in leading and owning the development of client presentations and leading client meetings. What we offer: Passionate, driven people| We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work. Consciously cultivated culture| We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery. Competitive benefits| What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness. Growth-minded opportunities| We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally. The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package. $75,000-$180,000 USD We believe the best work happens when were together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. Thats why weve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

Keywords: VML, Bartlett , Director Strategy, PR / Public Relations , Schiller Park, Illinois